First Sunday of Lent “As an Open and Affirming church: We respect the worth and dignity of all persons who come into our church family regardless of race, age, marital standing, gender, economic status, mental or physical challenges, nationality or sexual identity. We promise to support one another in our personal struggles, to understand and accept differences in one another, and pray to strengthen our love and acceptance.”
PRELUDE “Ornamented Prelude on Forty Days and Forty Nights” - Callahan
SILENT MEDITATION IN PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP
CALL TO WORSHIP
The time is fulfilled. The kingdom of heaven has drawn near.
Repent, and believe in the Good News. The reign of God is at hand.
Follow Jesus, who calls us to gather others. For the work has begun.
Believe in God’s love for you, for the world, For God sent his Son for us, that we might know eternal life.
Roll up your sleeves, and be prepared: The kingdom of heaven has drawn near.
HYMN #207 Just As I Am Woodworth LM
PRAYER OF CONFESSION & LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)
Ancient of Days, the earth flooded long ago, and we were given a sign: the rainbow, a reminder that Your covenant is with the whole earth, that You will never again destroy the earth by flood. Yet the world is still broken. You strive to make it whole. We have failed and fallen short, but You have remained steadfast. Your love for us has never ceased, though we have wandered and sought after the world’s desires. Call us back to Your covenant. Remind us of how You formed the world and made us in Your image. Remind us that we come
from You, and we return to You, and Your promises never end. You may be ancient, but You also make all things new. In Jesus Christ we pray: Our Father . . .
GLORIA PATRI (#759) Glory to the Creator, the Christ, the Holy Spirit Three in One; As it was in the beginning, Is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
May the peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS Genesis 9:8-17Mark 1:9-15 TIME FOR CHILDREN
SERMON Knowing God by Heart
MOMENTS OF SILENCE
HYMN#205Forty Days and Forty Nights Heinlein
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
HYMN #391 In The Midst of New Dimensions New Dimensions BENEDICTION POSTLUDE “Kyrie I” - Couperin
Call to worship and prayer of confession (adapted) are from rev-o-lution.org for 21 Feb 2021
We Pray For: those affected by the CoVID-19; the grieving; those serving overseas; all battling cancer; all struggling with financial crisis; those working to bear the burdens of others, and the healing of: Stephanie Murray; Anita Ames; Larry; Grace (Teddy) Graber; Brian Boldt, Seya Bishop, Janet Allen; Joyce Cook; Duane Witter;; Deb Janda; George McCullen (and wife Arline); George Danley; Mark Ball (Pat Danley’s son); Marj Misovich; Tom Tuzzio (Beth Thompson’s father); Dave Larson; Louis Foster; Levi Melia, and for his parents Charlotte and Drew; Mike Laing; and Steve Gadaree.
Our deepest sympathies are extended to the family of John Wohlleber upon his death on February 16th after battling cancer for 14 months. A funeral service will be streamed on Saturday, February 27th. Contact the office if you would like the link in order to "attend." . . The new Flower and Light the Steeple calendars are up and waiting for you to pick a date to celebrate a special occasion or remember a loved one. You can still provide flowers for the recorded service. Call the office to check on available dates.
EMERGENCY FUEL ASSISTANCE FUND for PNC Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center
It is that time of year when the PNC needs our help to keep our neighbors warm for the winter months. During the month of February our Mission Collection will be for the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center Fuel Fund. Thank you in advance, The Mission Committee
Internet Sales Benefit the Church!
Any time you shop online you may be missing an opportunity to give. For instance, when we buy DVDs for the Study Group at Great Courses, 2% comes right back to the church!
Go to http://www.iGive.com/NSCC-UCC and sign up.
You can also download the iGive “widget” that signals you every time you shop online if a site makes donations through iGive. Try it…and everybody benefits.
And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. - Mark 9:4-6 (NRSV)
Poor Peter. I imagine he was starstruck.
When we come face to face with people we admire, it’s only natural to be at a loss for words. We project on our icons all the best qualities of humanity and forget that they are human beings too. Elijah and Moses were both very human - subject to fear and self-doubt. They cried out to God for help and lamented at how inadequate they were to their calling. Yet they stand in the glorious light of Christ.
It’s okay to admire great people. It’s okay to intend to break forth in a psalm of praise equal to the Magnificat or Nunc Dimittis, but wind up offering to build Moses a tent instead. It’s human.
But just remember, you are a child of God, with a calling as holy and unique as that of Moses, or Elijah. You can do great things, just as they did. -Mary Luti
Global Ministries Prayers forMexico God of all people, in this time of cautious hope, we pray for real, systemic change in our justice and immigration system, so that every man, woman, and child from every country and city may seek out a life that is safe and abundant. We pray for our sisters and brothers who still wait at our Southern border, hopeful that their claims will be processed, that their prayers will be answered, that their families will be safe. We pray that you give them strength, hope, nourish- ment, and care during this period of uncertainty, and hold their hearts and their hands in yours. We give thanks for all those who work tirelessly to create a more just and workable immigration system in our country, on interpersonal, institutional, and systemic levels, and ask that you give them strength for this fight. And we ask that you open our hearts and our minds to our neighbors, and help us to see your face in the faces of each person we encounter. Amen
Ministers: the Congregation
Susan G. Latourette, Pastor – 860-759-4231, pastorsuel@yahoo.com
Michael G. Noonan, Director of Music
Kay Lautzenheiser, Christian Education Coordinator
Rosemary Kuemper, Church Secretary
Charlotte Melia, Sexton
Office hours: Monday –Thursday, 9 am - 1 pm
Zoom Prayer and Coffee Hour
Time: 21 February 2021 at 11:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
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